As more drag shows continue to pop up around the state, a venue in Fort Worth is planning to host a slew of drag shows that kids will be allowed to attend.
Red Goose Saloon, a bar and restaurant in downtown Fort Worth’s Sundance Square that frequently holds drag events, will be hosting a show called “Moondance Drag Brunch.”
The show will be headlined by Salem Moon, a man who performs dressed as a hyper-sexualized caricature of a woman.
The show will be held every Sunday until May 1. It will also feature other drag performers like Bradina Jay Cherise Maraschino, and Miss Gay Texas State at Large 2024, Kiana Lee.
The event organizers state that the drag show is recommended for audiences 16 years of age and older due to language, music content, and suggestive humor. However, the venue claims to “pride ourselves as being an all-inclusive brunch” and said parents can bring children under 16 to the show.
After the show was discovered by Texas Family Project, Defend Our Kids TX made a call to action encouraging people to call the Red Goose Saloon to close off the show to children.
Brady Gray, president of TFP, told Texas Scorecard his organization will continue to work to stop the sexualization of children.
“Not only is the Red Goose Saloon intending to continue to allow children at their event, but they’ve also responded to requests to simply restrict these explicit shows to be 18+ with anger and disdain. Although it is sad and embarrassing that we must pass legislation to stop perverts from grooming children, it is essential that the 5th Circuit uphold Senate Bill 12 and stop this evil,” said Gray. “In any case, Texas Family Project will continue to expose these people and fight against the grooming and sexualization of Texas kids.”
On Red Goose Saloon’s Facebook page, one person asked the venue to reconsider their underage policy and make the event 18+. The venue replied by telling the individual to “spread love, not hate and misinformation,” and to not “police other people’s decisions.”
During the 88th Legislative Session, lawmakers passed SB 12, which would prohibit sexually oriented performances in front of minors. However, after Gov. Greg Abbott signed the measure into law, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas sued the state to halt it from taking effect.
A federal judge ruled in favor of the ACLU and granted a permanent injunction against enforcing the new law, preventing violators from being subjected to fines of up to $10,000 per offense.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and filed a motion to stay that injunction. However, the appellate court has not yet ruled on the case.
